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Settle Ayodhya dispute out of court: Shia cleric

Well-known Shia cleric Maulana Kalbe Jawaad is of the view that only an out-of-court settlement can expeditiously resolve the long-pending Ayodhya dispute.

He was in Lucknow to depose before the special commissioner appointed by the Allahabad high court to expedite proceedings in the case.

"Muslims have a very legitimate legal right to the Babri mosque," he said. "This was what I will tell the commissioner, but only a peaceful out-of-court settlement can take the issue to its logical conclusion."

Lamenting that the case had been pending before various courts for 52 years, Jawaad said, "The issue can be resolved if both sides are determined to arrive at a solution."

"If was left to purely apolitical religious heads, who have no political affiliations, it would get sorted out in no time."

"Organisations like the Vishwa Hindu Parishad should be kept out of the entire process," he added.

Notably, two Hindu religious leaders - the shankaracharyas of Puri and Kanchi - have expressed somewhat similar views.

The popular cleric was also open to the idea of handing over the disputed site to Hindus provided the latter were sincere about withdrawing their claims on other 'disputed' shrines across the country.

"However, what is the guarantee that the VHP or its allies won't rake up old issues once the Ayodhya dispute is resolved?" he asked.

Jawaad denied that the Shia community was uninterested in the Babri masjid because it was a Sunni mosque.

Referring to the Holy Quran, he said, "According to the holy scripture, all mosques belonged to Allah. There is nothing like a Shia or a Sunni mosque."

The Ayodhya Issue: Complete Coverage

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